The Orphans’ Court properly found that a coin collection was purchased with money from a joint account and was owned by the decedent and the surviving spouse as tenants by the entireties, and the property rights of the surviving spouse … Continue reading
Daniel Evans
It was error for the Orphans’ Court to enter an order declaring an agreement between the decedent’s widow and the administrator of the estate to be null and void when the motion regarding the agreement had been filed only two … Continue reading
A petition to the Orphans’ Court for approval to sell a liquor license held by the decedent did not require notice to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board as an indispensable party. In re: Gloria Deckard, Deceased, 3140 EDA 2023 (Pa. … Continue reading
Husband was alleged to have improperly converted assets held jointly with his wife into his own name before his death. An action by the estate of the deceased wife against the estate of the deceased husband was not barred by … Continue reading
It was not previously reported here, but in late 2024 the Supreme Court amended the Rules of Professional Conduct to update many of the rules relating to lawyer publicity and advertising. A change that might be particularly relevant to estate … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has reaccredited the National Elder Law Foundation as a certifying organization for elder law for a period of five years. “Reaccreditation of the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certifying Organization for Elder Law; No. 255 Disciplinary … Continue reading
The word “situs,” from the Latin for “position” or “location,” is often used in connection with three different issues: which state’s courts have jurisdiction over the administration of the trust, which state’s laws govern the interpretation or administration of the...
Cumberland County has adopted a new local rule for discovery in its Orphans’ Court, as well as other local rules for civil actions, and custody and divorce proceedings. “Local Rules; Civil Term; 96-1335 Civil” (1/22/2025), 55 Pa.B. 904 (2/1/2025); “Local … Continue reading
In an appeal of a will contest alleging forgery, the appellant waived objections to the propriety of the Orphans’ Court relying on samples of the decedent’s signature that were not formally moved into or admitted into evidence because the court … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court found that the witnesses who testified to the decedent’s signature on the disputed will were credible, and that factual finding was binding on the appellate court. The finding by the Orphans’ Court that the appellant had knowingly … Continue reading